Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Projectile addressing surface and target – or distance marker
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-23
2001-12-04
Graham, Mark S. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Projectile addressing surface and target, or distance marker
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325726
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
Outdoor golf driving ranges are popular recreational gathering or congregation spots for those interested in either improving their golf game or simply hitting some golf balls as a way of relaxing. In climates where late fall or winter brings with it snow and cold weather, a typical outdoor golf driving range will be forced to close for the duration of the inclement weather season for any number of reasons, the least of them being other than the presence of snow on the ground. During the summer, outdoor golf driving range operators can, in a fairly efficient fashion, collect driven or hit balls either by hand or through the use of various self-propelled mechanical devices. In the winter, snow and cold and/or miserable weather conditions make most conventional-collection methods impossible or at least impractical since a hit ball may be lost in several inches or more of snow and/or ice. Further, the presence of accumulated snow makes the use of most conventional mechanical collection devices impractical. Additionally, the presence of snows hinders manual collection in at least two ways. First, since the ball may be buried in snow, in whole or in part, the ball may very well be difficult to spot from above even if it is of a contrasting or different color than the snow. Secondly, the very fact that snow is on the ground will, doubtlessly, either hinder or make it impossible for the collector to locate the balls. Accordingly, it is a principle objective of this invention to provide a golf driving range which is usable during the snowy and inclement weather months, and which allows for the efficient retrieval of hit balls by the range operator.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past various techniques have been utilized for providing indoor all-season golf facilities. While enclosed air-inflated domes have been utilized, they nevertheless provide limitations in size which, in turn, restricts the golfer in his ability to observe the projectory of the ball beyond the limits of the dome-size. The economics of the situation are such that it is impractical and financially unsound to utilize an inflatable dome structure which is large enough to eliminate the limitation and constraint of size.
Additionally, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,861,680, there is disclosed a system which provides for some limited utilization of a cold weather golf driving and/or practice range. The system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,861,680 utilizes a series of inverted “v” screens which carry yardage indicia, and which are necessarily positioned as a embutment plate or barrier for substantially free flight of the ball to a landing point. The system disclosed presents some difficulties in ball retrieval, particularly when considering the inherent limitations of dimensional configuration. The arrangement of the present invention eliminates these disadvantages and provides a golf practice facility which may be utilized all year-round in areas where climatic conditions result in harsh winters.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a golf practice driving range and facility which utilizes a heated open-ended enclosure for accommodating the golfer particularly in cold and/or inclement weather is revealed. The field is essentially unlimited in size and configuration, being conveniently placed on an existing golf fairway, and for ball retrieval purposes is covered with a plurality of elevated zones shaped generally as pentahedrons having a bottom or base surface which at least partly open. While not being essential or critical, the configuration is such that an arrangement or pattern of generally upright posts is provided for creating the pentahedrons, and thus creating a means for cheating gravity flow and movement of golf balls to a temporary collection and/or transfer point. The covering surface is preferably in the form of plastic film netting or reinforced scrim-like material which may be perforated with openings sufficiently small dimensions so as to reduce any interference with the free movement of the ball across the surface toward a ball retrieval opening.
Although the size and configuration of the installation is virtually unlimited, it is appreciated that the installation can be achieved and accomplished without the need for extensive grading or reworking of the earth or ground, thereby being environmentally friendly and ecologically sound. The installation is straightforward and the general configuration of the terrain of the base is replicated in the covering surface.
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Graham Mark S.
Haugen Law Firm PLLP
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